Sendai Ikuei with Its First Victory in Summer Koshien

The final of the 104th National High School Baseball Championship was held at Koshien Stadium in Hyogo, Japan, on August 22. Sendai Ikuei Gakuen of Miyagi prefecture beat Shimonoseki Kokusai of Yamaguchi prefecture, 8-1. Sendai Ikuei Gakuen won its First-Ever Koshien title and became the first high school from the Tohoku region to win a national championship. 

Ikuya Iwasaki hit a grand slam to the left-field stands to expand its lead from 4-1 to 8-1 in the seventh. Starting pitcher Yo Saito allowed only one run on three hits in seven frames. Koki Takahashi, who relieved Saito, held Shimonoseki Kokusai scoreless in the eighth and ninth.

Shimonoseki Kokusai, who also aimed at its first victory, took second place. It was impressive that it won continuously against the top two Championship contender teams, Osaka Toin high school in the quarterfinals and Ohmi high school in the semifinals. It attracted many high school baseball fans.
(KAISPO No.1197)